GAYLORD, Mich. — A calm, glassy dawn over Otsego County hides the next seasonal shift barreling in from the Great Lakes. Northern Michigan’s late-fall warmth is on borrowed time, with a weekend rain-to-snow changeover likely to bring the first winter tease of November.
Friday begins quietly, with light winds and highs in the upper 40s under filtered sunshine. It’s a good day for last-minute yardwork or travel across U.S. 131 before conditions change. By evening, clouds will thicken as moisture climbs north from the lower peninsula. According to the National Weather Service in Gaylord, showers will spread into the region Friday night and become more widespread Saturday afternoon as temperatures climb briefly into the low 60s — unusually mild for mid-November.
That mild spell won’t last. By Saturday night, colder air sweeps in from the northwest, dropping temperatures near freezing and flipping rain to snow across northern lower Michigan. Early accumulations should stay light, but grassy surfaces and bridges could briefly whiten. Gusts near 25 mph will add a raw, blustery feel by Sunday morning, when highs tumble back into the 30s.
The chill deepens into early next week, with lows dipping into the 20s and lingering lake-effect flurries possible north of Mancelona and Petoskey. While major snowfall isn’t expected yet, long-range models hint at a stronger cold push before Thanksgiving — one that could bring the region’s first measurable snow. Residents should plan for slick spots, colder commutes, and a clear reminder that winter is coming fast.
Five-Day Forecast for Gaylord, MI:
Fri: 48/34 – Mostly sunny; calm southeast wind.
Sat: 63/30 – Rain likely; changing to snow late.
Sun: 36/26 – Snow showers; windy and cold.
Mon: 37/24 – Mostly cloudy; lingering flakes.
Tue: 40/27 – Partly sunny; crisp morning.
